North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited two major missile factories in the east coast city of Hamhung in recent days where he called for increasing missile production and building more arms plants, according to state media on Friday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim was satisfied with short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) and artillery rocket production in 2025, and that he “ratified” draft documents for modernizing weapons factories to be reviewed at the Ninth Party Congress scheduled for sometime in the coming months.

He also stated “it is necessary to continuously raise the level of modernization of the munitions industry by establishing new munitions industry enterprises as planned” and “steadily updating” manufacturing lines at existing factories.

NK News analysis of KCNA photos suggests Kim visited two arms plants in Hamhung on the east coast which have been the main drivers of missile and rocket exports to Russia in recent years, propping up the invasion of Ukraine.

One was the February 11 Plant making Hwasong-11 series SRBMs as well as larger solid-fuel missiles and possibly satellite launch vehicles, where Kim last appeared in late August. Pyongyang has claimed that Hwasong-11 SRBMs can be fitted with nuclear warheads.

The other appeared to be the Tonghungsan Machine Plant making multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) like 122mm and 240mm shells, which he last publicly inspected in June.

While KCNA did not mention the inspection date, Kim was in the area this week overseeing a surface-to-air (SAM) missile test near Hamhung on Wednesday.

Kim reportedly said during the inspections that increasing production is necessary for the “operation of the state missile and artillery forces,” and that “the missile and shell production sector is of paramount importance in bolstering up the war deterrent.”

The Tonghungsan and February 11 plants must “make thorough preparations for unconditionally accepting and carrying out in a responsible manner the new modernization and production plans to be set forth at the 9th Congress of the WPK.”

Edited by Kristen Talman